Chelsea face Saints challenge as Spurs eye Palace date

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was asked what he thought about such an idea and he brushed it aside, advising that the FA Cup and the Premier League were two different competitions.

City gunned down…again Manchester City had triumphed in their last eight FA Cup semi-finals prior to Sunday, a streak that dated back to defeat to Arsenal in 1932. I think for us it was important this win. But Claude Puel’s team will have to have perhaps their best match of the season if they’re going to get that result, because Chelsea looked fantastic in taking down Tottenham in the FA Cup semifinal this weekend.

Afterwards Chelsea team-mate Cesc Fabregas said Hazard was second in ability in the world game only to Barcelona great Lionel Messi and could yet get even better if he was more “selfish” and demonstrated a greater “killer instinct”.

They host Leicester on Wednesday but at least they have an FA Cup final on the horizon.

But picking up the pieces of a talented squad that limped to 10th place last time around stands apart for the Italian, whose side are four points clear of Tottenham at the summit with six games remaining.

Chelsea’s 2-0 loss at Manchester United allowed Tottenham to trim their lead at the league summit to four points and Saturday’s clash at Wembley was billed as a chance for Spurs to strike a psychological blow.

Conte’s Chelsea were handed a quite usual Saturday to Tuesday turnaround this week, with a game against mid-table Southampton next up.

The high levels of his consistent performances are made all the more incredible when it is considered that he was playing League One football with MK Dons just two years ago. “The players must try to focus”.

“We know that they have an advantage but we need to believe until the end”, Lloris said.

Terry, who has won 14 major trophies at Chelsea, could finish the season lifting more silverware.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte: “I have in my mind the starting 11 but tomorrow I want to check very well the physical consideration of every single player as our last game was an intense one and used energy”.

“In my team I don’t want selfish players”.

“I felt as well that what was questioned was answered on the pitch”, the Frenchman said, responding to claims by critics that Arsenal lacked spirit.